The Red Sox signed veteran reliever Tommy Kahnle to a minor league deal, giving their bullpen depth another experienced arm as spring training winds down.
According to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, the 36-year-old right-hander will earn $1.5 million if he makes the major league roster, with an additional $250,000 in potential bonuses. Ari Alexander of Boston 7 News confirmed the financial details.
It’s a low-risk move for a Red Sox team that’s already looking strong on paper heading into 2026. After last season’s Wild Card Series exit, they’ve been building what could be one of the American League’s better pitching staffs.
But Kahnle’s coming off a rough year in Detroit that saw him walk 11.6% of batters he faced across 63 innings. His fastball velocity has dropped to 93.5 mph, though he’s adapted by throwing his changeup 86% of the time.
The former Yankees fan favorite stayed busy this offseason despite remaining unsigned until now. He threw two scoreless innings for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, showing he’s still got something left.
Depth Play With Upside
Even if Kahnle starts the season at Triple-A, he’d likely be first in line for a callup if Boston’s bullpen needs help. That’s the value of his 11 years of major league experience, even if durability has been an issue – he’s only thrown 40-plus innings six times since debuting with Colorado in 2014.
The way I see it, this is exactly the kind of signing contending teams make in late March. Low commitment, high upside, and they get a veteran who knows how to pitch in big spots.
All things considered, it’s smart insurance for a Red Sox team that has bigger ambitions than last season’s early playoff exit.
